Each year, an estimated 21,000 females (born of the female sex) in the US are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Out of these 21,000, 14,000 of them will die from the said disease. A woman’s lifetime risk of having this cancer is 1 in around 78. But your risk of dying from it is 1 in 108.
Over the past 20 years, though, the rate of diagnosis is slowly decreasing. Between 1999 and 2014, Caucasian females were likely to be diagnosed with this disease than those who are in other ethnic groups.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to detect and diagnose it. Most of its symptoms are similar to other less serious problems, such as indigestion and bloating. When it is in the early stage, this cancer will show no signs or symptoms in some cases. It will only be diagnosed until the cancer cells have spread to the other parts of the body, like the pelvis or abdomen.
If cancer has spread beyond the ovaries, treating it becomes difficult. That’s why early detection is vital so that doctors will have higher chances of treating it through surgery and chemotherapy.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
As stated earlier, early-stage ovarian cancer rarely causes symptoms. In the advanced stage, you will experience the following signs and symptoms:
Abdominal bloating
Swelling in the abdomen
Feeling full quickly when you eat
Weight loss
Pelvis area discomfort
Constipation and other changes in your bowel habits
Urinate frequently
Who is at Risk of Developing Ovarian Cancer
Women, ages 50 to 60 years old, have a higher risk of developing this malignant condition.
Heredity may also play a vital role in its development. However, the percentage is quite low. If you have a breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), then you are likely to develop it.
If you have a family history of this condition, you are likely to be diagnosed with this disease. Furthermore, if you used estrogen hormone replacement therapy for a long time and in high doses, then your chances of getting diagnosed with this disease are higher than those women who did not take this medicine.
When you start your menstruation early and it ended at a later stage, this situation may also increase your risk of this cancer.
How Ovarian Cancer Is Diagnosed?
There are tests that can diagnose this type of cancer. Pelvic examination is one. Here, your doctor will insert her gloved fingers in your vagina and presses a hand on your abdomen to feel the organs in your pelvic area.
Another test is ultrasound. CT scans may also be suggested. But it is typically done if your doctor suspected of a tumor in your ovaries. With these imaging tests, your doctor can determine the shape, size, and structure of your ovaries.
Some blood tests may also are requested. One of them is the tumor marker. A cancer antigen (CA) 125 test may be done. It is a test that detects a protein in ovarian cancer cells. Although it is not a confirmatory test, it will give you clues about your diagnosis.
Those tests are will not confirm whether or not you have this condition. That’s when your doctor is not certain about the diagnosis, she may suggest that you undergo surgery to remove an ovary and have it biopsied to determine any signs of cancer.
Are There Ways to Prevent Ovarian Cancer Naturally?
Doctors do not know how ovarian cancer starts. In that case, they are clueless as to how to prevent this condition from occurring.
But what you eat may help you prevent developing ovarian cancer and other types of cancer. Eating the right foods may slash your chances of getting this disease.
Ovarian Cancer Food Diet
Ginger
It is known that this herb has active compounds that can eliminate ovarian cancer cells in the same way chemotherapy drugs do. The only difference is that ginger does not cause sickening side effects. You may take one teaspoon of ginger per day or add one-half teaspoon of ground ginger in your tea.
Tomato Juice
Tomatoes contain cancer-fighting carotenoids. During the processing of tomato juice, the plant cell walls that contain those nutrients are broken down. As a result, the carotenoids are easier to absorb by your body. Drinking eight ounces of tomato juice a day may help cut your risk of developing this type of cancer.
Green Tea
The famous tea is known to have cancer-fighting compounds. They can prevent and repair damaged DNA. If you drink green tea each day, you are less likely to develop ovarian cancer. And if you drink another cup, you can lower your risk to another 18%.
Flaxseed
You will need to add two tablespoons of ground flaxseeds over your cereal and smoothies. Doing it daily will help you cut your risk by 38%. These seeds are high in compounds that can protect your ovaries from the damaging effects of high estrogen levels.
Endive
It contains a high amount of kaempferol. It is a substance that eliminates precancerous cells. It cuts the blood flow from cancer cells so they will starve. You may add slices of endive to your salads or grill it to bring out its sweetness.
Boost Your Immune System
Your body has a way to defend itself against invaders, like cancer cells. Although boosting your immune system does not necessarily help in fighting cancer callers, it can lower your risk of developing any malignant tumors.
One way to boost your immune function is to get enough sleep. You should also lower your stress. It does not matter what causes you to be stressed out. You need to eliminate those factors.
Stress is the number one silent killer. When you are stressed out, the cortisol levels in your blood are high causing your immune function to go down.
Takeaway
Beating ovarian cancer can be tough, especially if you have a family history of this disease. However, there are plenty of ways to prevent cancer cells from growing in your body. You need to start eating the right foods. Avoid those processed foods as they contain a lot of compounds that can cause gene mutations. You must consume raw foods, as much as possible.
My best friend died of ovarian cancer in 2014. You may read her story here. (Click the link to visit her post on how she was diagnosed with this type of cancer.)
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